Teach Your Dog To Spin (Twirl) On Command Overview
Teach your dog to spin on command with this dog training exercise from the Dog Training Planner.
This is a cute trick that your dog can show off to your friends. You will need plenty of treats and a clicker to teach your dog to spin. Remember to be consistent when training your dog and ensure that you have good timing when clicking and rewarding.
There’s nothing more satisfying than teaching your dog a new trick, especially one as fun as this one! You’ll be able to train your dog to spin in one direction and to discern the difference between left and right. The good news with this trick is that all you need to train a dog to spin/twirl on command is a handful of tasty treats and a clicker. So, it’s a great trick to practice your rewarding and clicking with.
The 4 Steps
If you scroll down a bit, you’ll see that I’ve written out all the steps from the video for you. I know. I know. I really am that nice (lol).
Videos are great if you’re a visual learner! Most people learn dog training drills best by first watching a video tutorial, and then having the written steps available during the training session, so they don’t get confused (Hey, if you want to completely avoid confusion, you might like to get your paws on my Dog Training Planner).
Step 1: Lure
Have a treat in your hand and lure your dog into a standing position. Once standing, you can lure them around in a circle. After they have done a complete circle, click and reward.
NOTE: Be aware when you teach “spin” that dogs are “directional”, so if you’re going to spin in one direction with them, that’s the direction they are going to remember. If you practice “spin” in both directions, those are two separate tricks, which will confuse your dog. So, at this point pick ONE spinning direction and focus on that.
Step 2: Increase Spins
Lure your dog to do two spins before clicking and rewarding.
Step 3: Hand Signal
If they are comfortable spinning, you can now introduce a hand signal. To do this, put your treat in the other hand and pretend to lure it with your empty hand. Click and reward when they complete the circle.
Step 4: Verbal Command
When your dog is comfortable with step 3, you can add a verbal command. Give the command ‘spin’ before you give the hand signal, click and reward when they complete the circle, and repeat until they respond to the verbal cue alone.
Final Thoughts
This trick may take a long time, but keep practising and use high-value treats for the best results. If your dog prefers to learn with a toy – listen to your dog. Some dogs may find it difficult to spin in a circle. If your dog is struggling with this trick, you can start out smaller (e.g. quarter or half circles) and work up to a full circle spin.
Dogs, just like “you”, get dizzy. So, don’t practice this trick for too long!
Before you go, read on to discover the secret sauce to dog training success...
Loving Leadership
Have a philosophy of loving leadership when training your dog.
As a loving leader, you should be constantly working on the communication pathways with your dog. At the bare minimum, your dog should also have some basic commands such as the lie-down command, sit command, and stay command.
When your dog knows a few basic dog obedience commands he or she will feel loved because they know what you want and have no anxiety or fear about what they should be doing and when.
Once your dog has a few commands under his or her belt (I mean, collar), practice behaviour dog training, command dog training and tricks dog training regularly to ensure your dog is physically and mentally healthy. As you are probably acutely aware, untrained dogs have a way of taking over the control of a home if not taught otherwise (which can be a nightmare). A trained dog, however, will bring years of doggie love to your household.
Pssst. Don't tell anyone, but you can become a loving leader by getting your paws on my Dog Training Planner. You can get my Dog Training Planner for a limited time at a 70% discount.
